Abstract: A pressure relief valve has a gasketed main body fastened to a vessel wall adjacent to a vent port, the body having a recess surrounding the port which receives a plastic insert removably coupled to the body by a retaining ring fastened to the main body. The insert defines a passage communicating with the port and a valve seat engageable by a seal assembly for closing the valve. The seal assembly includes an annular retainer for a seal O-ring and a plug receivable through the retainer and into a socket in a valve stem, which is spring-biased against the retainer and is guided in a guide assembly removably mounted on the main body. The insert is formed of plastic and the retainer and plug may also be formed of plastic and can be readily field-removable by simply unbolting the housing from the vessel and unfastening the retaining ring. The guide and bias assemblies need not be disassembled.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve has a gasketed main body fastened to a vessel wall adjacent to a vent port, the body having a recess surrounding the port which receives a plastic insert removably coupled to the body by a retaining ring fastened to the main body. The insert defines a passage communicating with the port and a valve seat engageable by a seal assembly for closing the valve. The seal assembly includes an annular retainer for a seal O-ring and a plug receivable through the retainer and into a socket in a valve stem, which is spring-biased against the retainer and is guided in a guide assembly removably mounted on the main body. The insert is formed of plastic and the retainer and plug may also be formed of plastic and can be readily field-removable by simply unbolting the housing from the vessel and unfastening the retaining ring. The guide and bias assemblies need not be disassembled.

Abstract: A bottom outlet valve for a tank car having a bottom is provided. The valve includes a nozzle projecting from the bottom of the tank car and defining an opening and having a locking member, an outlet cap shaped and dimensioned to cover the opening and moveable between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position the cap forms a substantially liquid-tight seal with the opening. The valve also includes at least one moveable handle coupled to the cap and having a locking portion engageable with the locking member and a hand gripping portion formed by structure defining a closed loop. Movement of the hand gripping portion causes engagement of the locking portion with the locking member, wherein when the locking member and locking portion are engaged, the outlet cap is retained in a closed position.

Abstract: A bottom valve assembly is provided for a tank car having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a manway disposed in the top portion. The assembly includes a valve seat disposed in the bottom portion of the tank car and defining an outlet opening and a plug moveable between closed and open positions relative to the outlet opening. In the closed position, the plug is disposed against a seat to form a substantially liquid-tight seal. The assembly also includes a link pivotally mounted to the manway, operating linkage coupled to the plug and pivotally coupled to the link, and a lever fixedly secured to the link. Movement of the lever causes the plug to be moved between the open and closed positions. The assembly may also include a latch for preventing movement of the plug from the closed position and a secondary linkage for moving the latch and to provide an indication at the manway of the plug position.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor for a tank includes coaxial inner and outer tubes having lower ends extending into the tank and upper ends projecting from the tank, with the upper end of the inner tube projecting from the outer tube and disposed a known distance from the top of the tank. A switch assembly includes a switch disposed in the inner tube and operable in response to proximity to a switch actuator which is carried by a float encircling the outer tube and movable therealong with the liquid level, the switch being connected across a pair of electrical conductors extending from the upper end of the inner tube. An indicator strip extends lengthwise of the conductors and is held thereagainst by a transparent sleeve, the strip having indicia indicating distance to the switch. Plastic cable ties extend through openings in the inner tube and snugly hold the switch assembly against the inner tube to permit manual axial movement of the switch assembly while preventing inadvertent movement thereof.

Abstract: A torque limiting valve handle for rotating a shaft of a valve is provided. The valve handle includes an elongated arm having a first opening therein adjacent to one end thereof forming an inner surface and a first channel formed in the inner surface. The handle also includes a hub disposed in the first opening and engagable with the shaft. The hub has an exterior surface and a second channel formed in the exterior surface and a drive position relative to the arm wherein the first and second channels cooperate to define a pocket. The handle further includes a shear pin disposed in the pocket for preventing rotation of the hub relative to the arm so that the hub rotates in response to rotation of the arm to apply torque to the shaft to rotate the shaft. The pin is frangible in response to application thereto of a force in excess of a predetermined force to allow relative rotation of the hub and the arm and prevent application to the shaft of a torque greater than a predetermined torque.

Abstract: A manway is defined by a cylindrical portion of a vessel wall and is closed by a cover pivotally movable between open and closed positions by means of a hinge mechanism including external brackets on the cover and the wall portion interconnected by a hinge pin. The opposite ends of the hinge pin carry bushings, on which are respectively disposed two torsion springs. Each spring has a vessel wall end portion disposed parallel to the hinge pin, the vessel wall end portions being respectively received in the opposite ends of a coupling sleeve engageable with bearing surfaces on one of the brackets. The other ends of the two torsion springs are respectively disposed generally perpendicular to the hinge pin and are received slidably through eyebolts fixed to the cover bracket.

Abstract: A valve has a valve member and an actuating member supported on the valve member by a mounting pin for actuating movement, wherein the pin has an axis extending between opposite ends thereof and the actuating member is connected to the pin intermediate its ends. The pin is supported on the valve member by a resilient coupling assembly including a support ring engaging the opposite ends of the pin and floating on a wave spring seated on a second support ring which is screwed to the valve member so that forces applied to the pin perpendicular to its axis will translate the pin against the spring rather than bend the pin. The second support ring is welded to a retaining ring and cooperates therewith to retain the spring and the first support ring in an integral cartridge module which can be mounted as a unit on the valve member.

Abstract: Coupling apparatus includes a bracket fixed to the housing of an air motor and an actuator mechanism fixed to the rotary output shaft of the air motor for coupling the air motor in driving engagement with a handwheel-operated valve for remote power actuation thereof. The apparatus is freely movable into and out of coupling engagement with the valve in directions axially of the valve stem without the use of tools, a retaining bar being pivotal between a release position accommodating movement of the apparatus into coupling engagement with the valve and a retaining position preventing movement from coupling engagement.

Abstract: A T-shaped fitting for a port in the wall of a closed fluid system includes a branched tubular body having a proximal end coupled to the wall in fluid-tight communication with the port and two distal ends and defining passages between the proximal end and each of the distal ends. A flexible resilient membrane closes one of the distal ends and has a normally closed slit therein adapted for removably receiving an associated probe therethrough in sealing engagement therewith, while an insect screen is disposed across the other of the distal ends. Caps, tethered to the body, are respectively threadedly engageable with the distal ends. Two elastomeric seals are provided between one of the distal ends and its cap, channel means being provided in that one distal end to permit venting when the cap is partially removed. The other cap is sealed by means of a tapered thread.

Abstract: Coupling apparatus includes a bracket fixed to the housing of an air motor and an actuator member fixed to the rotary output shaft of the air motor for coupling the air motor in driving engagement with a handwheel-operated valve for remote power actuation thereof. The apparatus is freely movable into and out of coupling engagement with the valve in directions axially of the valve stem without the use of tools, the actuator legs being movable into rotating engagement with the handwheel for rotation thereof simultaneously with movement of the bracket into non-rotatable engagement with the valve body for anchoring the motor housing and preventing rotation thereof with its output shaft. Two embodiments are disclosed, one for use with a valve having a solid handwheel and a yoke and the other for use with a valve having a spoked handwheel and no yoke.

Abstract: The spill valve includes an annular seat surrounding a circular port in the top of a tank containing liquid under pressure and a circular poppet valve member movable between open and closed positions relative to the seat. A plate overlies the valve member and extends laterally therebeyond and is integral around its periphery with a depending skirt which overlaps the seat around its perimeter and is spaced a slight lateral clearance distance therefrom for cooperation therewith and with the valve member to define an annular chamber when the valve is closed, the extension plate effectively increasing the valve member area against which the internal tank pressure is exerted when the valve member moves from its closed position. The valve is biased closed by a plurality of free weights which sit atop the extension plate.

Abstract: The gauge has an outer tube sealed at its lower end and adapted for attachment to the top wall of the tank. The gauge also has an inner tube axially movable within the outer tube. A float encircles the outer tube. Magnets respectively attach to the float and to the lower end of the inner tube, whereby a rising liquid causes the inner tube to rise as well. When the liquid level reaches a predetermined high level, a pencil-type magnet mounted within the inner tube operates a switch in an alarm box mounted in the top of the outer tube.

Abstract: A rotary plug valve includes a rotary plug which has a relatively thin-walled valving portion. To lock the valve in position or to achieve leak tight closure of the valve, the rotary plug is subjected to pressure such that the wall of the thin-walled valving portion deflects outward to tightly contact the surrounding wall of the plug receiving cavity in the valve housing.

Abstract: A backflow prevention device is disclosed which includes a pressure differential relief valve. The relief valve includes a lift chamber functioning to accelerate opening of the valve to assure that the valve fully opens once it has partially opened. The relief valve also includes construction features which allow control of the opening timing of the valve and which cause added closing force to be applied on the valve member to provide more positive closure thereof. Furthermore, a member is provided which substantially eliminates transfer of torque from a spring in the relief valve to a diaphragm therein and substantially eliminates angular cocking of the moveable valve assembly also in the relief valve.